You may have noticed that more Mazda SUVs have been entering the market at a rapid pace. However, the automaker feels like the large Mazda SUV lineup could have been better. Apparently, a few mistakes were made. 

COVID-19 rushed large Mazda SUV testing 

Did you know you have large Mazda SUV options? There’s the Mazda CX-70 and CX-90 that offer an abundance of space for passengers and cargo while replacing the CX-9. Plus, the CX-50 is larger than the CX-5. 

However, Mazda isn’t exactly proud of how launching the large SUVs went. The company vows to provide more testing and tighter development processes in the future to avoid relying on customer feedback for fine-tuning. 

According to The Drive, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models launched with a few early issues. For example, the new eight-speed automatic transmission was prone to shuffling gears. This led to two mechanical updates during the first 18 months after launching. 

Drivers complained that things felt heavy. But due to Covid shutdowns and pandemic limitations, engineers were prevented from properly testing the SUVs.

They tested the SUVs in environments that possibly failed to completely represent crucial situations. Mazda shared that it won’t be taking these types of shortcuts again, so vehicles are properly calibrated on day one. 

Future models won’t be subject to rounds of customer-driven corrections. Calibration and drivetrain behavior will be subject to more thorough market-specific research and testing. The PHEV system in the CX-70 and CX-90 is continuing to be refined. 

Both models feature a 2.5-liter inline-four engine that’s paired with a 68 kW electric motor and 17.8 kWh battery to generate 323 hp and 396 lb-ft of torque. It has an EPA-estimated range of 26 miles on electric power and gets about 56 MPGe.